Goose Fire Grows To 1,000 Acres

PRATHER — The Goose Fire, burning south of Prather along Highway 168, has now grown to 1,000 acres with just 5 percent containment.

The fire was reported at 2:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon in the area of Gooseberry Lane and Morgan Canyon (see map below), and has forced the evacuation of more than 300 homes and closed Highway 168 from Auberry Road on the north, and at Old Millerton Road on the south.

Several structures have been destroyed, and power and water has been knocked out to hundreds of residents.

A request to the state for mutual aid has been accepted and more resources are coming to the area.

The Fresno County Sheriff reports evacuations and closures as follows:

EVACUATION WARNINGS

Tollhouse to Nicholas Road

Loper Valley Road between Nicholas and Auberry

MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS

Gooseberry to Morgan Canyon

Gooseberry to Lodge Road

Black Mountain Rd south of Lodge

Whispering Springs Lane from Lodge Road

Lockwood Lane from Lodge Road

Penny Royal Lane from Lodge Road

ROAD CLOSURES

Gooseberry at Morgan Canyon

Lockwood at Morgan Canyon

Black Mountain Road at Lodge Road

Wintermute at Lodge

Whispering Springs at Lodge

An evacuation center has been setup by Red Cross at Foothill Middle School located at 29147 Auberry Road in Prather.

A large animal evacuation center has been setup at Sierra High School 33326 Lodge Road in Tollhouse.